Volume III, 2011 Fairfax County Fire... Volume III, 2011 1

Volume III, 2011
Volume III, 2011
1
Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department
Fire Chief Ronald L. Mastin presents the 2011 Firefighter of the Year leather helmet to Lieutenant Marc S. Davidson, Fire and Rescue
Academy, July 20, 2011, in the A-Level Conference Center, Massey Building. Lieutenant Davidson is the 26th recipient of the Firefighter
of the Year Award. (Photo by Angela Ballard, Fire and Rescue Academy)
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Volume III, 2011
From The Fire Chief . . .
T
Ronald L. Mastin
“The time
spent in
New York
talking with
many retired
and active
members that
responded
that day
really
made one
appreciate the
tremendous
sacrifices
that all first
responders
endured. ”
he ten year anniversary of the
tragic events of September 11,
2001, will have passed when
this edition is published, but I think it
only fitting as a number of us return from
the recent World Police and Fire Games
(WPFG) held in New York City to reflect on our recent visit. The theme of
the WPFG: “Honor, Remembrance, and
Gratitude” set the tone for the games and
the candlelight vigil that followed at the
Cathedral of Saint John the Divine on the
evening of September 5, 2011.
I had the distinct privilege to talk with
many members of public safety organizations from more than 70 countries,
and while Hurricane Irene dampened the
start of the games, it did not dampen the
spirit of the first responders. Our public
safety personnel were there to compete in
various sporting events, but more importantly, they gathered to honor those that
made the ultimate sacrifice ten years ago.
Throughout the games, these athletes and
their families made their way to Ground
Zero to witness the remnants of the Twin
Towers and the Freedom Tower under
construction. They could also be seen
stopping by Station 10, located in view of
the Twin Towers, to admire the engraved
scenes of that tragic day. This may have
been the most photographed tribute to the
events of 9/11/01.
The time spent in New York talking
with many retired and active members
that responded that day really made one
appreciate the tremendous sacrifices that
all first responders endured. The collective pride of first responders from all
Ronald L. Mastin, Fire Chief
Dan Schmidt, Editor
Cathy Jo Richards, Layout and Design
© COPYRIGHT 2010
Fairfax County
Fire and Rescue Department
4100 Chain Bridge Road
Fairfax, Virginia 22030
703-246-3801
around the world was clearly visible and
moving as all of us were charged with
the same important responsibility in our
respective communities.
I want to thank the athletes who participated in the games, and the staff that
attended countless meetings and events to
learn how we can best manage this event
when it comes to Fairfax in 2015. This
seems like a date in the distant future, but
planning has been ongoing for the past
two years, and the next four years will be
extremely busy and challenging. Captain Jerome Williams, Lieutenant Craig
Luecke, and Lieutenant Blechel from the
Police Department, have been detailed
to this project for the next four years to
ensure the games go on as planned and
become a huge success in 2015. They
are extremely dedicated to this event
as demonstrated by their commitment
during our visit to New York. With over
60 events, there will be something for
everyone, so sharpen your game and
prepare for the most prestigious athletic
and networking event for public safety
personnel in the world. v
LINE COPY is the newsletter of the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department
and is published by the department’s Public Affairs and Life Safety Education staff.
Questions regarding deadlines or publication schedule should be addressed to Cathy
Jo Richards at 703-246-3801. All submissions should be sent to Public Affairs and Life
Safety Education, marked “Attn: Editor, LINE COPY.”
Volume III, 2011
3
Firefighter of the Year Award recipient Lieutenant Marc Davidson, pictured with his wife, Denise, his daughter, Victoria Marie, and
son, Marc Daniel. (Photo by Angela Ballard, Fire and Rescue Academy)
This Issue . . .
Captain II Charles Pullen, President, Progressive Firefighters,
Inc., presents Krizia-Ivana Udquim, a senior at Lake Braddock
High School, with their 2011 Annual Scholarship award of $500
on August 9, 2011. Pictured from left to right is Captain I Chris
Thompson, Mother, Liz Udquim, Father, Jose Udquim, Krizia-Ivana
Udquim, and Captain II Charles Pullen. (Photo by Ensberg Udquim)
From The Fire Chief .................................................................2
Firefighter of the Year...............................................................3
Thirty-Third Annual Chamber of Commerce Valor Awards ...4
131st Recruit School ................................................................8
Letter of Thanks........................................................................9
Stroke Care Advancement Benefits Patients ..........................10
Fire & EMS Safety, Health, & Survival Week .....................11
Observations on Medical Refusals .........................................12
Medical Refusals, Gaining Perspective and Feedback ...........13
Hot Shots ...............................................................................14
2011 World Police & Fire Games ..........................................16
2011 World Police & Fire Games Participant List ................18
Why the Treatment? What’s the Problem? ..........................19
Letters of Thanks ....................................................................20
VATF-1 Deployment ..............................................................20
Large Loss Fire Investigations ...............................................22
Community Outreach Program Highlights ..........................23
Awards and Presentations .....................................................24
Top 10 Activity Report ..........................................................26
Letter of Thanks......................................................................27
Taiwanese Councel General Recounts VATF-1’s Help ..........27
“Taking Up” ..........................................................................28
Retirements, Anniversaries, & New Hires ............................30
Profile, Fire & Rescue Station 18 ..........................................32
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Volume III, 2011
Thirty-Third Annual Chamber
of Commerce Valor Awards
Members of Virginia Task Force 1 responded to the Haiti earthquake, January 12, 2010.
Haiti Earthquake Response
SILVER MEDAL OF VALOR
I
n January 12, 2010, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti. Initial reports suggested
a high number of casualties and widespread
damage with an urgent need for search and rescue. The Fairfax County, Virginia, Urban Search
and Rescue team mobilized immediately, with
the initial team of 72 search, rescue and medical
personnel and six canines on the ground in the
affected area within 24 hours of the disaster's onset. A second Fairfax County USAR team consisting of 42 personnel and one canine deployed two
days later, merging with the first team.
USAR team USA-1 conducted search and rescue operations in and around Port au Prince. The
team was able to make 16 rescues; 12 of which
were made within the first 48 hours; and assisted
with humanitarian aid.
Two particular situations illustrate the difficul-
ties and dangers faced by the Urban Search and
Rescue Team:
• A large, five-story hotel, full of tourists and
government workers before the earthquake,
had completely collapsed. The team arrived at
the site and entered into a chaotic and politically charged environment with multiple international teams operating on the same work
site, under extremely hazardous conditions. By
breaching and breaking concrete and tunneling
through unstable areas, team members were
able to reach many of those entombed by the
structure, making or assisting in eight rescues
at the site.
• At the University of Port au Prince, a five-story
college campus building had undergone a
“pancake” collapse. After many live victims
were found and no other rescue assets were
Volume III, 2011
available, USA-1 entered the scene and found
that there were possibly five victims trapped in
the rubble and started rescue operations. They
were able to extricate all five victims within 33
hours, despite having to move amongst dozens of deceased and some of the most tenuous
structures without a true ability to shore the
building.
While Urban Search and Rescue is one of the
most hazardous undertakings in the arena of
public safety, the mission to Haiti contained
some of the most dangerous, yet successful, operations to date. During the mission, members
were exposed to unstable collapsed buildings,
blood and other biohazards, a confused and
needy populace, and extended work periods.
Despite the challenges, the professionalism, courage, compassion, and fortitude of the members of
USA-1 demonstrate the highest traditions of the
United States Fire Service and the Fairfax County
Fire and Rescue Department. v
5
above them collapsed leaving them trapped in
the burning basement.
Truck 422’s crew immediately retrieved two
chain saws and cut through the flooring that had
blocked access through the rear door. Engine
408’s crew operated a hose line to cool the basement and help control the ever increasing fire.
Engine 408 and Truck 422’s crews functioned,
and succeeded as a team. The collective and individual efforts determined the outcome. Captain
Jenkins maintained constant contact with Engine
422’s crew directing them to the rescue access
points, keeping them calm, focusing the rescue
efforts, and providing excellent updates to command.
Technician Bridges and Firefighter Lefever
both maintained an effective attack position for
continued control of the fire. Without their attack
presence, the crew inside, whose protective hose
line was compromised and unusable, would have
faced certain burn injuries.
Master Technician Capps and Firefighter
Huehn both received a Silver Medal. Technician
Bridges, Captain I Jenkins, and Firefighter Lefever each received a Bronze Medal of Valor for
their heroic and selfless roles in this incident. v
Pictured left to right: Firefighter Heather J. Lefever, Captain I Larry
E. Jenkins, Firefighter Mark E. Huehn and Master Technician John
L. Capps. Not pictured: Technician Davin E. Bridges.
Fatal House Fire
SILVER & BRONZE MEDALS OF VALOR
U
pon arrival at an extensive house fire,
the 4th and 5th Battalions were advised
that two civilians were still inside the
structure. With little regard for their own safety,
they deployed into the first floor and the basement to suppress the fire and rescue the trapped
occupants. Engine 422's crew had made it only 15
feet inside the basement when the kitchen floor
Captain II Anthony L. Jackson
BRONZE MEDAL OF VALOR
C
aptain II Anthony Jackson was travelling in his private vehicle when he came
upon the scene of a three-vehicle accident. Captain Jackson noticed that there was fire
under the most severely damaged vehicle. A
(Continued on Page 6)
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Volume III, 2011
(Continued from Page 5)
citizen informed him that the vehicle was occupied. Neither of the two front seat passengers
was conscious. Captain Jackson cut the passenger's seat belt and carried her to the side of the
road. The driver became conscious and removed
himself from the vehicle.
Captain Jackson returned to the car and was
told that there were children trapped in the rear
of the vehicle. He climbed through the front of
the car to access the children, while fire units began cutting open the rear. Captain Jackson was
able to remove one child from his car seat and the
other child was removed by fire units.
Captain Jackson’s responsive, skilled, and selfless actions saved these people’s lives and protected them from further harm. v
Pictured left to right: Technician G. Brian Mayhugh, Firefighter
Keith Baughan, Firefighter B. Wayne Talbert, and Technician Ryan
S. Fletcher. Not pictured: Lieutenant Marc S. Davidson and
Technician Richard N. Mitchell.
Potomac River Rescue
LIFESAVING AWARD
E
Battalion Chief William A. Garrett
LIFESAVING AWARD
S
tation 16 was celebrating the retirement
of their longtime Station Captain. During the dinner, the Station Captain began
choking on a piece of meat. Chief Garrett recognized the Captain was in distress and asked if he
was choking. Chief Garrett positioned himself to
provide aid to the Captain. He dislodged the obstruction, and the Captain began normal breathing. While providing aid to victims is an everyday occurrence for Fire and Rescue employees,
the level of anxiety and stress is amplified when
a fellow employee requires aid. Battalion Chief
Garrett used his training and expertise in a quick
and professional manner, thereby saving a life. v
ngine Company, Medic, and Fire Boat 420
responded with Fairfax One for a report
of three people in the water near Pohick
Bay Marina. The victims had been canoeing in
the bay when their canoe capsized. The current
was headed out to the Potomac River making
it nearly impossible for the victims to swim to
shore. Civilians could hear the people screaming,
but they could not see them because the victims
were too far off-shore.
Personnel from Fire Station 420 rapidly placed
the fire boat in service. Fairfax One rapidly located the first victim and guided FB420 to his location. Firefighter Baughan entered the water from
the fire boat and rescued the victim. After retrieving the victim from the water they immediately
started to treat the cold and wet victim while continuing the search for the second victim. Fairfax
One located the second victim and guided FB420
to his location. Firefighter Baughan entered the
water again and rescued the second victim.
It took less than 19 minutes from the time of
dispatch to remove both victims from the frigid
waters. Under poor conditions, cold water, rapid
current, and a pitch black night, the skill and
rapid actions of the personnel assigned to FB420
saved these victims from serious injury, and possibly death. v
Volume III, 2011
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Community Outreach
Technician Anthony D. Shockley
LIFESAVING AWARD
A
request was made over the PA for a doctor or a
nurse to assist when a citizen suffered a medical emergency in the terminal of BaltimoreWashington International Airport. Technician Anthony
Shockley, waiting for a flight, proceeded to the area
to assist. He saw a person on the ground, checked for
signs of life, and finding none, immediately began CPR.
Using an AED, he delivered a shock and continued CPR
immediately following defibrillation. After several minutes, the patient began to breathe. Technician Shockley
utilized his training and skills in a quick and professional manner without regard for his own safety. In doing
so, he provided this man with a chance at recovery from
a serious medical emergency. v
Fire Station 410, B-Shift provided a show and tell to
Parkland Elementary during their summer program, July
14, 2011.
L i n e C o p y can be viewed at
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fr
(*All valor award photos taken by Angela Ballard, Fire and Rescue
Academy)
Construction progress continues with the new Fire and Rescue Station 12, Great Falls. (Photo By Volunteer Chief Homer Johns)
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Volume III, 2011
131st Recruit School
Firefighter Medic
Adam S. Bartman
Firefighter
Paul G. Beasley, Jr.
Firefighter
Richard J. Beatty
Firefighter Medic
Trevor A. Billingsley
Firefighter Medic
James L. Campbell
Firefighter Medic
Nathan S. Cheon
Firefighter
Todd E. Clist
Firefighter
Justin C. Cuffee
Firefighter
Rachel A. Defibaugh
Firefighter
Daniel G. Delboy
Firefighter Medic
Sergey Fedorovskiy
Firefighter Medic
Jeremy L. Fox
Firefighter Medic
Thomas E. Hill III
Firefighter
Daniel V. Holton, Jr.
Firefighter Medic
Christopher R. Lindsey
Firefighter
Ashlyn F. Meerholz
Firefighter
Kevin E. Nishiyama
Firefighter
Sean A. O’Neill
Firefighter Medic
Alisha A. Reakoff
Firefighter Medic
Eric W. Schlueter
Firefighter
Jonathan D. Schmeltz
Firefighter Medic
Andrew W. Snell
Firefighter Medic
Adam G. Wiesler
Volume III, 2011
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Volume III, 2011
Stroke Care Advancement Benefits Patients, Providers
Continue to Evolve with Education and New Tools
By Scott Weir, MD
Operational Medical Director
Saving Brains
Stroke remains the third leading cause of death in the
United States and is the leading cause of serious longterm disability. An estimated 795,000 people suffer a
stroke annually in the U.S.
The majority of strokes are ischemic events
which account for about 80 percent, while only
20 percent are hemorrhagic events caused by
bleeding into or around the brain. Although
less common, the hemorrhagic events tend to be
more dramatic and more deadly. The majority
of stroke system development was built most
closely around ischemic stroke not hemorrhagic
events.
Types of Stroke
Ischemic stroke ......... 87%
Hemorrhagic stroke (ICH) 10%
Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) 3%
Source: strokecenter.org
The System of Care
Stroke care has evolved significantly over the past
five years nationally, regionally, and locally. Fairfax
County Fire and Rescue Department was among the
first to utilize a validated prehospital stroke screening
tool, to implement primary transport to stroke centers
and to communicate stroke alerts from the field. We
were among the first to extend the window for primary transport to 4.5 hours, following evidence that
TPA (Tissue Plasminogen Activator) can be used to
treat select patients beyond the initial 3 hour rule. We
continue to follow the emerging evidence. We are
working closely with our system partners from neurol-
ogy, neurosurgery, neurointerventional specialists and
others to refine our management of ischemic stroke,
and intracranial bleeds.
The availability of stroke centers has grown,
along with a formal credentialing method by the
Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health
Care Organizations (JCAHO) certification.
It is important to recognize however that these
primary stroke centers are primarily designed
around the care of acute ischemic strokes – not
bleeds (i.e. – hemorrhagic CVA [ICH]) or subarachnoid hemorrhages). While comprehensive stroke centers have neurosurgical and/or
neurointerventional capability, some primary
stroke centers do not. Others still are working
to develop and define their capabilities. Some
patients with high suspicion of ICH/SAH may be
transported directly to neurosurgical capable facilities. Decisions in the field are based on identification, stability, transport distances, and the
field provider’s on scene decision-making. Physician on-line medical direction is always available
and may help identify transport destination in
complex or unclear cases. If necessary, a strategy
of identification at a primary stroke center and
secondary transfer is reasonable. Identification
of candidates for neurosurgical intervention is
complex. The window for intervention is wider
for hemorrhagic events than ischemic events –
generally within 12 hours for intracerebral hemorrhage. Early treatment of aneurysm, to reduce
the incidence of rebleeding, seems to be within
24 hours based on American Stroke Association
guidelines for ICH and SAH (Stroke 2007 and
Stroke 2009).
Volume III, 2011
JCAHO certified primary stroke centers
Virginia
• HCA Reston Hospital
• INOVA Alexandria Hospital
• INOVA Fairfax Hospital
• INOVA Loudoun Hospital - Landsdowne
• INOVA Loudoun Hospital - Cornwall
• INOVA Mount Vernon
• Virginia Hospital Center – Arlington
Washington DC & MD
• Suburban Hospital
• George Washington
• Georgetown
• Washington Hospital Center
Source: Qualitycheck.org and Regional Stroke Plan
Refining Our Systems of Stroke Care
We will also be adding to our stroke education and patient assessment. We currently use
the Cincinnati Stroke Scale. It is one of the two
stroke screening tools designed and validated for
use in the prehospital setting. It primarily identifies anterior circulation ischemic events. It does
not identify posterior circulation events quite
as well, nor does it distinguishing hemorrhagic
events from ischemic events. We plan to include
11
recognition of the major stroke syndromes, as
well as integrate the Miami Emergency Neurologic Deficit exam (MEND exam) with the 2011
EMS manual. While our hospital-based partners
use the NIH Stroke Scale, it is cumbersome and
neither intended nor validated for prehospital
use. We will also be working with our regional
partners to integrate ASA recommendations for
identifying patients with ICH/SAH and provide
more formal guidance as part of our 2011 EMS
manual.
There are also endovascular treatment options
(i.e. - snaking the drain) for select patients with
ischemic stroke in whom intravenous TPA alone
is not as effective or not an option. These patients
include large, proximal, anterior occlusions with
large clots, as well as some posterior circulation
events. The therapeutic window for endovascular intervention is less clearly defined. While
earlier is likely better, endovascular intervention
in anterior events may extend to 8 hours, and in
some posterior circulation events as long as 24
hours.
Stroke care has advanced greatly over the past
ten years and will continue to advance. The
Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department is
proud to work with our partners and be a part of
advancing stroke care locally and regionally. v
Fire and EMS Safety, Health, and Survival Week Proclamation
The Board of Supervisors
designated June 19-25, 2011,
as Fire and EMS Safety,
Health and Survival Week in
Fairfax County. Members of
emergency medical services
teams, whether career or
volunteer, engage in thousands
of hours of specialized training
and continuing education
to enhance lifesavings skills.
Chairman Sharon Bulova
presents the proclamation to
Battalion Chief Danny Gray,
Safety and Personnel Services.
(Photo by Lisa Connors, Office of
Public Affairs)
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Volume III, 2011
Observations on Medical Refusals: Thought
Provoking Assessments, Outcomes, and Successes
by Beth Adams
EMS Administration
I
magine that the worst nightmare of your life
as an ALS provider has become reality and
you’ve been called to testify on your own
behalf regarding a patient refusal that regrettably
ended with a bad outcome for the patient. How
well does your ePCR reflect the situation you
found, as well as the assessment and care you
provided? Was the care you provided consistent
with the Fire and Rescue Deparment’s (FRD)
current medical protocols? If it wasn’t, did you
consult online medical direction (OLMD) before
initiating a nonprotocol intervention? Does your
documentation of this event create a convincing
picture that your patient was mentally competent
to refuse and fully understood your recommendations and the risks of refusal?
If you were able to answer “yes” to all of the
preceding questions, excellent! If not, you may
be putting yourself and the FRD unnecessarily at
risk. Unfortunately 76.6% of the ePCRs reviewed
for the Q1-2011 patient refusal study failed to
answer the “refusal questions” to establish the
patient’s capacity to refuse care. Andrew Seltzer
states that “the legal ramifications of patient nontransport have become increasingly important in
recent years, as they have been shown to constitute 50-90% of lawsuits against both EMS agencies and personnel.” This figure represents both
patient and provider initiated refusals.1
In the March 2004 edition of EMS Insider, Winnie Maggiore, JD, NREMT-P, recounted a suit
from Louisiana (James Kyser v. Metro Ambulance, 764 So. 2d 215 [La. App. 2000]) where the
plaintiff suffered a severe stroke after refusing
care. The contention was that the EMS crew was
grossly negligent for having left him in the care
of his girlfriend. In her summary of the case,
Ms. Maggiore noted that the crew’s compliance
with procedure, thorough documentation of
their assessment/recommendations for treatment
and consultation with OLMD contributed to the
courts finding in favor of the EMS providers.2
One goal of an EMS system is to assess and
treat patients and transport them to the appropriate facility for further evaluation by a physician.
While it is certainly true that mentally competent
adult patients have the right to refuse treatment
and/or transportation, likewise parents who
meet the same criteria have the right to refuse
on behalf of their minor children. It is important
that whatever decision the patient makes is an
informed one. Equally important is the complete
and accurate documentation of the situation as
you found it, your assessment, interventions and
an explanation of the recommended treatment
as well as the risks of refusal. Suffice to say, the
recommendation should never be merely “eat”
and the risks are never “none.” Unlike the Star
Trek medical team, we do not have a tricorder
that allows us to accurately identify everything
that is medically going on with our patients, so
we must advocate in our patient’s best interests.
That advocacy should be evident in the care we
give and the guidance we provide, as well as our
documentation of same. v
References
1. Seltzer, Andrew et al. “Outcome Study of
Minors after Parental Refusal of Paramedic
Transport.” Prehospital Emergency Care, July/
September 2001, Volume 5, Number 3, pages
278-283.
2. Maggiore, W. Ann. “Patient Refusals Can Pose
Legal Danger” EMS Insider. Volume 31, Number 3. March 2004.
Best Practice Tip:
If the patient is unable to sign his/her name,
under NO circumstance should the provider
performing the assessment, documenting the care
and counsel regarding risks/benefits/alternatives
sign a refusal on behalf of the patient.
Volume III, 2011
13
Medical Refusals, Gaining Perspective and Feedback
by Beth Adams
EMS Administration
14
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Volume III, 2011
Fireboat 420 pumped and relayed water from the Potomac River to an awaiting engine providing a much needed water supply to the
house fire at 10606 Belmont Boulevard, August 6, 2011. Crews from B-Shift were challenged in several ways upon their arrival; the
nearest hydrant was over a mile from the fire, the road leading to the home was extremely narrow, and the heat and high humidity made
it difficult to fight the fire. Approximately half of the home sustained fire and water damage, with extensive smoke damage throughout
the structure. Three adults and three children were displaced, and one firefighter was transported to INOVA Mount Vernon Hospital for
a non-life threatening injury and later released. Damage was estimated at $237,000. The fire is under investigation.
Firefighters from Fire and Rescue Station 40, Fairfax Center, and Rescue Squad 401 from Fire and Rescue Station 1, McLean,
extricate an adult female driver involved in a two-car wreck, June 10, 2011, at the intersection of Legato Road and Post Forest
Drive. The adult female driver was transported to INOVA Fairfax Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. (Photo by Lieutenant
Thomas J. Griffin, Fire and Rescue Academy)
Volume III, 2011
Technician Matt Guillaume and Firefighter Rodney Gray, Fire
and Rescue Station 34, C-Shift, respond to a vehicle fire, August
13, 2011, on I-66 at Nutley Street. (Photo by Captain I Ronald A.
15
Firefighters from B-Shift contend with a tractor-trailer fire on I-66,
mid-afternoon on July 5, 2011. The trailer, carrying a large load of
hay, was uncoupled from the tractor. The hay fire resulted in a major
highway incident and snarled traffic for several hours. Tankers were
dispatched to bring the fire under control. There were no injuries.
Gemsheim, Fire and Rescue Station 34, C-Shift)
Firefighters from B-Shift attack a house fire at 3901 Hummer Road, July 1, 2011. Firefighters were initially called for an outside
fire; however, upon arrival the two-story home was on fire and received approximately $225,000 of damage. Three occupants were
displaced. Two firefighters were transported with non-life threatening injuries to INOVA Fairfax Hospital. Fire investigators ruled
the fire as accidental. An outside electrical panel caused the fire.
Fairfax County units responded to a fire in a commercial strip
center July 31, 2011, at 45999 Old Ox Road in Loudoun County.
Engine 404 arrived first on scene, Truck 425 quickly followed along
with TL 619 conducting extensive roof operations. Units operated
on scene for more than two hours. The cause of the fire is under
investigation. (Photo by Lieutenant Raymond Foster, Fire and Rescue
Station 25, C-Shift)
Fire and Rescue Station 38, West Centreville, is the latest approved
station patch. Currently, 33 of 37 stations have patches.
16
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Volume III, 2011
Technician Brian Roberts, Fire and Rescue
Station 24, Woodlawn, moves the puck
around several Phoenix Police hockey
players during the 2011 World Police
and Fire Games held in New York City in
August. Phoenix won the match 7-4. (Photo
provided by the World Police and Fire Games)
Members of the Fairfax County Fire and
Rescue Hockey Team pose for a photo at
the 2011 World Police and Fire Games.
Front row (left to right): Firefighter Chris
Herbolsheimer, Technician Brian Roberts,
Captain I Jimmy Johnson, Captain II
Patrick Kelly, Lieutenant Keith Cerzullo,
Deputy Chief Chuck Ryan, and Firefighter
Heather LeFever. Back row (left to right):
Capt. I Pete Masters,Technician Steve
Urban, Captain I Bob Banasik, Technician
Dan Keyes, Firefigher Billy Harrington,
Technician Chris Zach, and Firefighter
Adam Thomes. (Photo by Supervisor Pat
Herrity, Springfield District)
The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue
Department hockey team takes a break
between periods during their game with
Phoenix Police at the 2011 World Police
and Fire Games.
Volume III, 2011
17
Lieutenant (Retired) Doug Shaw swims one
of the legs of the medley relay race at the
2011 World Police and Fire Games.
The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department
Paintball Team, the "Krusherz," won Silver Medals
at the 2011 World Police and Fire Games competition
held in New York City. Front Row (left to right):
Lieutenant Tim Barb, Technician Andy Choi,
Firefighter Andrew Neuhaus, Technician Chaz
Takacs, Captain I Todd Barb, and Coach Samuel
Haynes, Nephew of Captain II Mike Garcia. Back
Row (left to right): Master Police Officer Lincoln
Kieffer, Fairfax County Police Department, and
Firefighter Travis Nguyen.
Members of the various departments and agencies observe the closing
ceremonies concluding the 2011 World Police and Fire Games, September 4,
2011, held in New York City.
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Volume III, 2011
19
Why the treatment? What’s the problem?
By Dan Avstreih, MD, FACEP
Associate Operational Medical Director
I
t troubles me to think back to all the cardiac
arrest patients I’ve had over the years that
didn’t have the best possible outcome because “A” and “B” happen to come before “C” in
the alphabet. That tube I was so eager to get as a
20 year-old medic probably didn’t help many of
those patients who needed a minute of high-quality CPR and early defibrillation. I know many of
our seasoned personnel are nodding their heads
in agreement, thinking back to all of the prolonged CPR pauses that helped us see cords, but
didn’t help us save lives.
I feel like now we are in a new era of emergency care where we are peeling back to layers of our
old assumptions and asking the right questions
(and doing the right research) so that our treatments and protocols are based on the simplest
but most important question: What’s the problem?
Getting two large bore IV’s in penetrating
trauma patients sounded like a good idea until
we realized that we were only able to give saline
through them, and all that was doing was displacing perfectly good blood out of uncontrolled
sites. A classic study in L.A. showed penetrating
trauma patients “dropped off” (e.g. thrown out)
at the ED by private vehicle had a better survival
rate than those coming by EMS...probably because of the time it took on scene to get those two
14’s.
There are calls where starting interventions
early and transporting late is the right approach. The 55 year-old witnessed cardiac arrest
at Exxon Mobil’s headquarters should be worked
on-scene until ROSC because the two minutes
spent dragging him across the street to Inova
Fairfax reduces his survivability at least 20%. At
the same time, that stab wound in the abdomen
(or any other patient with non-compressable
bleeding - the ruptured AAA, the ectopic preg-
nancy) needs blood products and the OR, neither of which we can deliver in the field at this
time. So we should offer them the best thing we
can: a rapid assessment and the safe but forceful
application of diesel fuel.
When we think about the problem we are treating, our medical plans of attack flow naturally. Getting that CPAP on early makes sense for
that bad COPDer, but then we know that following it with lots of albuterol is the next step for fixing the problem deep in the airways. We know
that the door-to-balloon time is the single most
important part of treating a STEMI, so we should
be pushing hard to get a 12-lead as soon as we
get on scene and calling in the alert, but worrying much less about getting the nitro onboard
(since it has never been shown to have a marked
survival benefit and has the definite potential to
dig holes in our Inferior/Posterior/Right-sided
patients). Backboard straps are unlikely to save
lives, but rapid identification of significant traumatic injuries is, and this is something we need to
remember to best prioritize our actions on accident scenes.
We don’t always know what the problem is,
and on many of our calls we won’t. This holds
true in the ED as well as the street, and we have
a lot more diagnostic tools in the ED. But, more
and more, when we think about the process
that’s actually going on...not just the complaint,
but the real problem...our approach gets efficient,
effective and research-supported. And if there
is one thing, brothers and sisters, that the firerescue service has a long tradition of, it’s solving
problems! v
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20
Letters of Thanks
Virginia Task Force 1 prep and account
for their equipment prior to deployment
to North Carolina, New Jersey, and
Massachusetts, August 26, 2011. (Photo
by Angela Ballard, Fire and Rescue Academy)
Volume III, 2011
Volume III, 2011
21
The crew from Engine 431 prepares to moves in to knock
down a stubborn transformer fire at Sunrise Valley Drive
and Reston Parkway, May 31, 2011. (Photo by Battalion
Chief Mark Rohr, retired)
L i n e C o p y can be viewed at
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fr
22
Line Copy
Volume III, 2011
Large Loss Fire Investigations
Date: 5/5/2011 Box: 25-00 Address: 1702 Putter Lane Type: Residential
Cause: Accidental Value: $652,680 Loss: $75,000 Status: Closed
Date: 5/6/2011 Box: 23-00 Address: 4041 Taylor Drive Type: Residential
Cause: Accidental Value: $333,780 Loss: $75,000 Status: Closed
Date: 5/30/2011 Box: 11-00 Address: 7000 Canterbury Lane Type:
Commercial Cause: Accidental Value: $217,320 Loss: $87,440 Status: Closed
Date: 6/19/2011 Box: 13-02 Address: 8129 Larkin Lane Type: Residential
Cause: Accidental Value: $450,000 Loss: $75,000 Status: Closed
Date: 7/1/2011 Box: 08-04 Address: 3901 Hummer Road Type: Residential
Cause: Accidental Value: $433,035 Loss: $225,000 Status: Closed
Date: 7/4/2011 Box: 36-02 Address: 2402 Misty Dawn Court Type: Residential
Cause: Accidental Value: $302,025 Loss: $70,000 Status: Closed
Date: 7/7/2011 Box: 22-13 Address: 7701 Southern Drive A Type: Vehicle
Cause: Accidental Value: $59,895 Loss: $59,895 Status: Closed
Date: 7/10/2011 Box: 09-43 Address: 7803 Belford Drive Type: Residential
Cause: Accidental Value: $370,000 Loss: $270,000 Status: Closed
Date: 7/27/2011 Box: 23-03 Address: 9203 Alyssum Way Type: Residential
Cause: Accidental Value: $560,100 Loss: $75,000 Status: Closed
Date: 7/29/2011 Box: 09-00 Address: 7816 Ridgecrest Drive Type: Residential
Cause: Accidental Value: $431,680 Loss: $50,000 Status: Closed
Date: 7/30/2011 Box: 17-00 Address: 14458 Cool Oak Lane Type: Residential
Cause: Incendiary Value: $139,935 Loss: $121,645 Status: Under Investigation
Vienna Volunteer Recognized for 70 Years of Service
Simone “Sam” Savia was recognized by the Board of Supervisors
September 13, 2011 for his continued and selfless service of 70
years to the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department and
the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department. He joined the Vienna
Volunteer Fire Department as a teenager in November 1941,
serving as a volunteer firefighter for many years. His many
leadership positions within Vienna VFD include: president, vice
president, secretary, lieutenant, and several terms as a member of
the Board of Directors. A lifetime member, he still actively serves
as an administrative member since retiring from operational
duties. In July of this year, in recognition of his sustained service,
the Vienna VFD named the apparatus bay in his honor.
Volume III, 2011
23
Community Outreach Program Highlights
Over 2,000 backpacks and mounds of school supplies were
distributed to deserving school children for the new school year.
(Photo by Angela Ballard, Fire and Rescue Academy)
The county’s Government Center was a site for backpack and
school supply drop-off point for the Fire and Rescue Department's
(FRD) annual “Backpack and School Supply Drive,” August 18,
2011. The Department of Human Resources partnered with the
FRD to collect backpacks, notebooks, pens, pencils, rulers, and
paper. Pictured left to right: Sherry Ali, Department of Finance,
Captain I Willie Bailey, Fire and Rescue Department, Technician
Laura Huggins, Fire and Rescue Station 40, C-Shift, Technician
Brian Jenkins, Fire and Rescue Station 40, C-Shift, Lorraine Yake,
Department of Finance, Valarie Benn, Department of Human
Resources, and Carol Schultz, Department of Human Resources.
Not pictured: Betty Marshall, Department of Human Resources.
(Photo by Lisa Connors, Office of Public Affairs)
Crews from Fire and Rescue Station 25, Reston, and senior
leadership from KIDSRFIRST unload school supplies to stuff
backpacks for needy school children. (Photo by Renée Stilwell,
Public Affairs and Life Safety Education)
Technician Craig White, Fire and Rescue Station 9, Mount Vernon, B-Shift, (left photo), and Gary Bailey (right photo), brother
of Captain I Willie Bailey, Public Affairs and Life Safety Education, an Alexandria barber, were two of ten barbers who provided
free haircuts to over 100 school children, August 29, 2011, at Gum Springs Recreation Center, 8100 Fordson Road, Alexandria.
Department members, the Progressive Firefighters of Fairfax County, Inc., and WKYS 93.9 FM sponsored the popular and firsttime event. (Photo by Jeanne Theismann, Connection Newspapers)
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24
Volume III, 2011
Awards
&
Presentations
Unit Citations
Lilting Lane Brush Fire
Engine 432
Captain I Edward D. Bowman
Technician David L. Wallis
Technician Michael W. Conover
Firefighter Jeremy J. Godines
Vehicle Accident
Engine 436
Chief Ronald L. Mastin administers the oath to Captain II Michael J. Garcia, during
the promotional ceremony July 13, 2011, in the A-Level Conference Center. (Photo
by Angela Ballard, Fire and Rescue Academy)
Prince William County Brush Fire
Engine 417
Team Performance Awards
CPR Event
Engine 440
Tower 436
Captain I James R. Stricklen
Lieutenant Jon S. Stern
Technician Joseph K. Cox
Firefighter Peter M. Perez
Volunteer Firefighter John Yang
Lieutenant Brian C. Edmonston
Master Technician Ronald W. Swarthout, Jr.
Technician Kevin D. Makely
Police Event
Engine 430
Captain II Kerwin A. McNamara
Technician Paul T. Marria
Firefighter Keith F. Bresnahan
Firefighter Crystal M. Plasters
Prince George’s County Brush Fire
Engine 411
Captain I Steven D. Norris
Technician Randall K. Schwartz
Technician Kerri S. Bouse
Technician William F. Ward
Captain I Steven T. O’Brien
Lieutenant Randall J. Allen
Technician Sean M. Fensterwald
Acting Technician Katherine S. Stoner
Medic 430
Firefighter Joshua M. Morrison
Lieutenant Haywood P. Marshall
Lieutenant James R. Bookwalter, Jr.
Technician Jeffrey J. Werth
Firefighter Anthony R. Butler
Firefighter Rodney E. Gray
Medic 421
Lieutenant Anthony D. Mullins
Firefighter Medic Andrea N. Burich
Pedestrian Struck
Engine 415
Lieutenant Kenneth M. Laverock
Master Technician Michael R. Zdunski
Technician Christopher A. Zach
Firefighter Julie C. Sehnal
M415
Lieutenant James T. Martin
Firefighter Medic Anthony S. Martinez
Rope Rescue
Rescue 439
Captain I Michael J. Marks
Technician Eric D. McLaughlin
Technician Peter C. Kehne
Technician Michael T. King
Rescue 421
Chief Ronald L. Mastin presents Certificates of Promotion to Lieutenant Tracey M.
Reed, Captain I Michael J. Marks, Battalion Chief Keith M. Ludeman, and Captain
II Michael J. Istvan, June 8, 2011, in the A-Level Conference Center. (Photo by Angela
Ballard, Fire and Rescue Academy)
Lieutenant Robert M. Garza
Technician Duane N. Black, III
Technician Herbert M. Knerr, Jr.
Acting Technician Andrew T. Reedy
Volume III, 2011
25
Capsized Boat, Belmont Bay
Engine 420
Captain I Leroy L. Butler, Jr.
Master Technician Gregory D. Washenko
Technician Travis D. Traynham
Firefighter Edward F. Imperato
CPR Event
Engine 411
Captain I Steven D. Norris
Technician Johnathan H. MacQuilliam
Technician Randall K. Schwartz
Firefighter Medic Richard L. Forte
Medic 409
Lieutenant Jessica P. Spear
Firefighter Medic Daniel K. Platzek
Single-Family Dwelling Fire
12441 Popes Head Road
Engine 417
Captain I Michael B. Davis
Lieutenant David A. Winter
Master Technician Deborah G. Sparrer
Firefighter Joel N. Atagwe
Engine 432
Captain I Barry J. Rathbone
Master Technician David J. Higgins
Technician Michael S. Lee
Firefighter Charles K. Botchwey
M440
Technician Aleksandra O. Kazmar
Technician Alyssa J. Vance
Multi-Agency Training Exercise
Battalion Chief Tyrone J. Harrington
Captain II Jerome I. Williams
VRE Drill
Battalion Chief Kenny J. Wolfrey
Captain II George Harley
Lieutenant Timothy O. Barb
Career Achievement Award
Battalion Chief Michael C. Schaff
Captain II Robert A. Konczal
Captain I Richard C. Smith
Kirsten J. Schneider,
Administrative Assistant IV
3-Year Safe Driving
Lieutenant Eric S. Craven
Technician Davin E. Bridges
Technician Shawn R. Fisher
Technician Adam C. Heming
Technician Kelly D. Johnston
Technician Albert R. Kerns
Technician Bryan C. Knupp
Chief Ronald L. Mastin presents Certificates of Promotion to (left to right) Fire
Inspector III Timothy D. Schwarting, Technician William M. Schnaekel, Lieutenant
Richard L. Merrell, Technician Jose C. Chavez Paredes, Technician Ian R. Brill,
Technician Laura B. Huggins, Lieutenant Randall J. Allen, and Captain I Mervin
E. Barrera, August 10, 2011, in the A-Level Conference Center. (Photo by Angela
Ballard, Fire and Rescue Academy)
Technician Jeffrey E. Loach
Technician Angel L. Medina
Technician Lawrence G. Mullin
Technician Johnny Price
Technician Tara D. Richards
Technician Travis D. Traynham
Firefighter Lawrence N. Basil
Firefighter Charles K. Botchwey
Firefighter Kalyan A. Bruce
Firefighter Andrew G. Dubinsky
Firefighter Brendan M. Downing
Firefighter Benjamin E. Jenkins
Firefighter Isagani M. Matias II
Firefighter David W. Prohaska
Firefighter Brian M. Snyder
Firefighter Peter Torres
Firefighter Elizabeth K. Wagner
6-Year Safe Driving
Lieutenant David A. Hessler
Technician Michael W. Adams
Technician Michael R. Boub, Jr.
Technician Brian M. Chinn
Technician Mark J. Deyneka
Technician Kristopher W. Johnson
Technician Vernon Johnson
Technician Mark C. Killion
Technician Kevin J. Steinhilber
Technician Susan V. Tomczak
Technician Robert J. Williams
Firefighter Tracey Y. Chittenden
Firefighter Walter A. Covert, Jr.
Firefighter Won C. Lee
9-Year Safe Driving
Master Technician Carlos R. Carillo
Master Technician Randal A. Leatherman
Technician Gerald D. Butler
Technician Rolando E. Contreras
Technician James M. Furman
Technician Mark B. Gauntner
Technician James P. Korb
Technician Robin M. Lotz
Technician Alfred O. Mann
Technician Timothy J. Pais
Technician Robert E. Pickel, Jr.
Technician Samuel L. Poles, Jr.
Technician Shannon G. Reed
Technician Eric A. Russell
Technician Elton L. Short
Technician Eric M. Wyatt
Firefighter Jorge F. Arias
Firefighter Clinton A. Brown
Firefighter Donald W. Rohr
15-Year Safe Driving
Master Technician Brian A. Bonifas
Technician Warren H. Artis
Technician Rickie L. Atkins
Master Technician John P. McDonell
Master Technician Robert L. Upchurch
Master Technician Thomas C. Williams
Technician James B. McKendree
Technician David A. Neilan
Technician Todd D. Price
Firefighter Hugh S. Boyle
Firefighter Kenneth W. Clark
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26
Volume III, 2011
A wreath was placed in front of the Tomb
of the Unknown Soldier, Sunday May 29,
2011, in commemoration of Memorial Day.
Representing VATF-1 for the response to the
Earthquake/Tsunami in Japan, at a memorial
for the Japanese American soldiers of the
442nd Regimental Combat Team, 100th
Battalion, and the Military Intelligence
Service. Pictured left to right: Lieutenant
Rex Strickland, Captain Rory Suzuki, USN,
and a member of the Old Guard. (Photo by
Deputy Chief Keith Johnson)
Top 10 Activity Report
April - June 2011
Ambulance
Unit
A 411
A 408
A 410
A 409
A 422E
A 414E
A 402E
A 421E
A 413E
A 401
Calls
431
390
372
371
119
96
54
51
39
24
Medic
Unit
M 410
M 430
M 422
M 408
M 428
M 409
M 411
M 425
M 429
M 417
Calls
585
573
551
549
544
537
533
520
517
511
Engine Company
Unit
E 410
E 408
E 409
E 430
E 429
E 417
E 422
E 411
E 413
E 404
Calls
769
695
694
691
636
633
627
617
598
565
Ladder Company
Unit
T 410
T 429
T 425
TL 4 3 0
T 422
TL 4 4 0
T 411
TL 4 0 1
TL 4 3 6
TL 4 3 8
Calls
443
425
411
385
350
343
297
291
284
259
Rescue Squad
Unit
R 421
R 426
R 418
R 411
R 401
R 414
R 419
R 439
Calls
347
340
319
294
273
229
205
202
Battalion Chiefs
& EMS Captains
Unit
Calls
EMS 4 0 2
438
EMS 4 0 4
421
EMS 4 0 5
372
EMS 4 0 3
306
EMS 4 0 1
288
EMS 4 0 6
266
EMS 4 0 7
222
BC 4 0 4
207
BC 4 0 3
197
BC 4 0 2
150
Unit activity is compiled from the event history file. A unit must be dispatched
to a call or added on to be counted. Mutual aid dispatches are included in the
activity report.
Line Copy
Deadline
The deadline for the
remaining 2011 issue
of Line Copy is no later
than November 15.
Please submit articles
or text to Dan Schmidt
at Dan.Schmidt@
fairfaxcounty.gov or
Cathy Richards at Cathy.
Richards@fairfaxcounty.
gov.
Volume III, 2011
27
Letter
of
Thanks
Taiwanese Counsel General Recounts VATF-1’s Help 10 Years Later
On June 17, 2011, the Counsel General of Taiwan, Jeffrey Wang presented a $20,000 check to
help with the rebuilding of Glade Spring, Virginia. Wang told the story of when his country of
Taiwan suffered an earthquake 10 years ago. He recounted that “a rescue team from Fairfax County,
Virginia, (VATF-1) came halfway around the world to aid Taiwan’s people. Now, in Virginia’s time
of need, his country wanted to offer something back.” He went on to say, “although it is a modest
contribution to the relief effort, I just want to be here to extend our care and also our sympathy and
our compassion toward the people that were affected here. I am here as a gesture of friendship
and reciprocity from our nation, to show our appreciation and our care for your people here,”
Wang said.
Early on April 28, 2011, an EF3 tornado ripped through parts of Washington and Smyth counties,
leveling much of the Glade Spring area and resulting in the death of four people.
(Editor’s Note: Taken from the June 17, 2011 Bristol Herald Courier newspaper)
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28
Volume III, 2011
ment: Camaraderie, brotherhood, newness of every day,
opportunity for personal and
professional growth.
Will miss about the Fire Department: Being on time, working out, running calls, firehouse
dinners, and helping people
knowing that you made a difference in someone’s life.
Plans for the future: Move to
Alaska to join my wife and my
kids. Work for State of Alaska.
Enjoy the life in the Bush Alaska.
Words of wisdom: Be safe.
Watch out for each other’s back
and go home to your families.
Zest for knowledge.
What got you interested in the
fire service? Job security, new
challenges and desire to be of
service to the citizens of this
great country and mankind in
general.
Who or what had an influence
in your career? Firefighter
Imperato, Captain Ricky Pray,
Captain Kenneth Hunsberger,
Technician Bob Downing,
Firefighter Dennis Thompson,
Captain Joe Kaleda, Technician
Jim Tolson, and Firefighter Greg
Morton.
Will miss about the Fire Department: I will never forget
the really busy days. I was
never in a slow company until
I made chief because I always
liked to be on the road training
Battalion Chief
or running calls anytime of the
Mark S. Rohr
day or night.
Plans for the future: Play with
the grandkids, golf, and work
Entry Date: February 28, 1977
Retirement Date: July 17, 2011 as the Program Manager for the
National Capital Region InciRecruit School Number: 40
dent Management Team.
Assignments: 1, 4, 18, 11, 24,
26, 34, 25, PSCC, 30, 4, 25, FMO, Words of wisdom: Don’t get
caught up in gossip and things
BAT402, OEM, BAT401.
that are not of any concern to
you and your company. Make
Likes about the Fire Departit your personal goal that every
ment: There is so much to like
member goes home uninjured,
about the job. I was able to
smarter, and stronger at the end
actually help others instead of
just talking about it. We have so of your shift. Don’t just talk
about it, BE SAFE!
many opportunities to take advantage of including getting the What got you interested in the
fire service? My dad bought us
chance to meet and work with
a scanner so we could listen to
some of the best and brightest
public safety radio and I had a
in the business here and across
neighbor that joined the VFD.
the nation.
Who or what made an influence in your career? My good
friend Brad Curry, who encouraged me to join the Vienna
VFD in late 1972. Many of the
career guys that worked at FS02
back then, Charlie Wilkerson,
Bill Fowler, Jim Strickland,
Carl Maurice, Jeff Donaldson,
Glenn Benarick, my brothers
Dave and Don, Dan Bickham,
Jim Swiggett, Chris Raabe, Jeff
Sager, and so many other great
members that have either already retired or are still on the
job today. A special thanks to
all of the members of BAT401-C
who made it real easy for me to
come to work each day. Thanks
to all of you!
“Taking Up”
Master Technician
Ravinder S. Mashiana
Entry Date: April 30, 1986
Retirement Date: June 2, 2011
Recruit School Number: 74
Assignments: 35, 14, 22, 27, 20,
Fire Marshals Office, 41, and 16.
Likes about the Fire Depart-
Volume III, 2011
Lieutenant
Timothy C. Walker
Entry Date: March 8, 1982
Retirement Date: August 25,
2011
Recruit School Number: 56
Assignments: 17, 8, 9, 19, 24, 5.
Likes about the Fire Depart-
Captain I
Thomas J. Wealand
Entry Date: December 10, 1973
Retirement Date: July 4, 2011
Recruit School Number: 30
Assignments: 13, 10, 22, 18,
Field Training, 10, 28, 29, 28.
Likes about the Fire Department: What’s not to like! It’s
the best job in the world! No
two days are the same; no two
calls are the same. The people.
Firefighters are the best and will
do anything to help you out.
Get them in a group and there is
nothing they can’t do or won’t
try. The people that you meet
on the street every day. A few
of them still think we can walk
on water! Running calls. The
excitement of getting to the call
and the challenge of using your
training and experience to deal
29
ment: The familial bond, unquestioning trust, pride, integrity, and GUTS.
Will miss about the Fire Department: See above. There is
no substitute.
Plans for the future: Ten-inch
wheels and two-stroke smoke!
Words of wisdom: Hello rookies. Welcome to Fairfax County.
It’s hot in the summer and cold
in the winter. It’s big and wet
and crowded. At the outside,
rookies, you’ve got about 30
years here. There’s only one
rule I know of, rookies--you’ve
got to be kind. (with apologies
to Kurt Vonnegut).
What got you interested in the
fire service? They told me I was
too short. Then the fight was
on.
Who or what had an influence
in your career? Bill Bullock,
Dave Collins, Jim Alderton,
Craig DeAtley, and Matthew
Malof as the medic I always
strived to be.
with a myriad of situations.
Firehouse life. The conversations around the kitchen table.
It’s amazing the things that you
will hear and learn. Helping
someone we don’t know and
will probably never see again.
We have the best of everything;
apparatus, equipment, facilities, services. Many fire departments can only dream about
having things that we have.
Will miss about the Fire Department: I will miss it all.
My friends and co-workers.
Through the fire department,
I’ve made so many good friends
along the way. Eating dinner
with the shift. The stories . . .
so many stories! Running calls
and riding on Engine 28. It’s
been my second home for a
long time.
Plans for the future: Enjoy retirement. I’ve been told that it’s
great. Catch up on my sleep.
Catch up on my chores and
complete a few projects around
the house that have been on
hold too long. Maybe do some
traveling. Go fishing with my
son, Bobby. Continue to volunteer.
Words of wisdom: Have a
role model. Someone that you
admire and respect who strives
to be the best at what they do.
The ones who always do the
right thing, on and off the job. I
was so fortunate in my career to
have worked with people who
set a good example and pointed
me in the right direction. Train
every day; it could save your
life. There is so much information available and you can never
learn too much about your
trade. Get out of the station and
learn your area. Respect your
shift members. You live together and everything we do, we do
as a team. Your life could be in
their hands. Respect the people
you encounter on calls and during your daily activities outside
of the firehouse. They are the
reason that you have a job. You
never know who you might
meet on the street. Officers, you
won’t know it all and you don’t
(Continued on Page 30)
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30
(Continued from Page 29)
have to do everything yourself.
Use the knowledge and experience of that senior firefighter or
technician. It will make your
job a lot easier. Be consistent.
Don’t get complacent. Always
check the attic and the basement. Take care of yourselves,
your family, and each other.
Start early to plan for your retirement. It will be here before
you know it.
What got you interested in the
fire service? My brother Jim
started taking me to the fire
house in our home town, Middletown, Pennsylvania, when I
was 13 or 14 and I got hooked.
He has been involved with
the fire service for as long as I
can remember. He and I went
through recruit school together.
In a lot of ways I grew up at the
firehouse.
Who or what had an influence
in your career? My brother,
Jim, my rookie assignment to
Company 13, Buddy Allen,
Gary Mesaris, Jack Brown, Jim
Volume III, 2011
Anderson, Carl Plaugher, John
Kimball, Chuck Gibbs, Harry
Johnston, Bob Evans, Hugh
Wood, Sunnie Cardwell, Dave
Brooks, Ricky Riley, Pete Lund,
Wesley Gerald, and so many
others. I have been so fortunate to have worked with, and
for, the best, and I could fill the
page with names. Sadly, some
of them are no longer with us.
I like to think that I’ve learned
something from everyone that
I’ve worked with over the years.
New Hires
Renee Breeding,
Administrative Assistant II
Angela L. Johnson,
HR Generalist II
Kim Renfro,
Materials Management Specialist I
Brian C. Bundy,
Truck Driver
Forrest H. Johnson,
Apparatus Mechanic
Matthew W. Smith,
Inspector II
Cecelia A. Corbitt,
Life Safety Education Specialist
Joseph R. Konczal,
Materials Management Assistant
Lavanda G. Sykes,
Materials Management Specialist I
Timothy J. Cannon,
Inspector II
Jesse D. Kruse,
Materials Management Driver
Jennifer E. Taylor,
Life Safety Education Specialist
Lionel G. Duckwitz,
Inspector II
Michael B. Long,
Inspector II
Kathy S. Thompson,
Administrative Assistant III
Matthew B. Duckwitz,
Inspector II
Christine M. Malone,
Inspector II
Luis A. Vitela-Escobar,
Inspector II
Michael S. Ferrell,
Instrument Technician II
George G. Martin,
Inspector II
Victoria R. Mazzoli,
Administrative Assistant II
Carolyn E. Ford,
Administrative Assistant IV
William J. Mueller,
Inspector II
Willie D. Gilliam,
Instrument Technician II
Michael A. Paruti,
Inspector II
Michael E. Haynes,
Inspector II
Ricky D. Pray,
Inspector II
Eugene E. Jacob,
Inspector I
Shiela A. Pulliam,
Inspector II
John P. Jones,
Vehicle Coordinator
Lisa D. Reddington,
Administrative Assistant II
CORRECTION:
The following names were inadvertently left off of the anniversaries in Line Copy, Vol. II, 2011:
25 Years
Captain I Todd S. Hall
Lieutenant Glenn C. Jackson
5 Years
Technician Cheryl T. McWilliams
Volume III, 2011
Gary L. Buckley, Engineer III
September 20, 2003 - July 18, 2011
31
Retirements
Battalion Chief Mark A. Rohr
February 28, 1977 - July 18, 2011
Captain II Michael J. Ciarrocchi
April 12, 1976 - August 14, 2011
Master Technician Ravinder S. Mashiana
April 30, 1986 - June 2, 2011
Master Technician Jean E. Thorsell
May 31, 1983 - July 31, 2011
Master Technician William V. Hedrick
May 21, 1979 - July 31, 2011
Firefighter Stephen J. Meyer
June 2, 1980 - September 9, 2011
Captain I Thomas J. Wealand
December 10, 1973 - July 4, 2011
Technician Andrew J. Hubert
January 12, 1981 - July 9, 2011
Captain II Richard K. Moxley
December 10, 1984 - June 17, 2011
Lieutenant Robert E. Wheeler, Jr.
April 29, 1985 - June 17 2011
Technician John P. Jones
March 17, 1986 - May 6, 2011
Technician Todd D. Price
September 21, 1987 - July 29, 2011
Lieutenant Timothy C. Walker
March 8, 1982 - August 25, 2011
Anniversaries
36 Years
Captain I Steven J. Blount
Technician Thomas P. Feehan
34 Years
Master Technician Michael D. Macario
33 Years
Battalion Chief Tyrone J. Harrington
32 Years
Battalion Chief Craig N. Buckley
Assistant Chief John A. Burke
Captain I Terrence L. Jenkins
Captain II William R. Kingdon
Captain I David G. Lange
31 Years
Lieutenant Kevin A. Edmondson
Battalion Chief John S. Price, Jr.
Technician John M. Smith III
30 Years
Lieutenant Charles F. Adams, Jr.
Master Technician Eric D. Moore
Master Technician Uwe B. Reins
Captain II Richard J. Yuras
25 Years
Lieutenant Jeffrey R. Allen
Captain I Robynn M. Berquist
Technician Kenneth W. Cornett, Sr.
Assistant Chief Garrett L. Dyer
Technician Mark B. Gauntner
Technician Barrett E. Gibbs
Captain I Raymond E. Griffin, Sr.
Technician Jerold R. Manuel
Captain II John R. Niemiec
Firefighter Benjamin A. Rice
Captain II Scott M. Smith
Captain II Donald L. Vaught
15 Years
Captain I Michael D. Allen
Technician Lloyd W. Coburn III
Captain I Kevin P. Edwards
Captain I Marlin J. Hood
Lieutenant Christopher L. Johnson
Technician Peter C. Kehne
Master Technician James P. Kotwicki
Master Technician Joseph M. Laun
Captain I Joseph D. Merritt, Jr.
Lieutenant William S. Moreland
Firefighter Gregory A. Morton
Technician John R. Mudge
Lieutenant Vitor M. Rocha
Captain I William T. Schellhammer
Technician Brent M. Schnupp
Captain I David Schwarzmann
Lieutenant Patricia A. Tomasello
Lieutenant James H. Williams
10 Years
Captain I Calvin M. Alexander
Robert F. Arrington III,
Materials Management Specialist III
Lieutenant Pedro P. Benavidez
Firefighter Keith F. Bresnahan
Firefighter Clinton A. Brown
Cathy C. Caniford,
Administrative Assistant III
Brian K. Cannon,
Fire Apparatus Mechanic
Lieutenant Eric S. Craven
Lieutenant Michael P. D’Amico
Technician Daniel T. Hahn
Master Technician Michael E. Klump
Technician Garner Marshall
Lieutenant Stephen P. McCay
Richard M. Mock,
Fire Apparatus Mechanic
Master Technician Alexander C. Obert
Technician Clemente R. Rivera
Technician William E. Thurston
Master Technician Reginald L. Wadley
Technician Frances J. Webb
5 Years
Firefighter Gustavo Cambronero-Vargas
Technician Latasha Faulk-Collins
Technician Michael D. Guck
Firefighter Chris J. Herbolsheimer
Technician Jennifer A. Hoeck
Technician Albert R. Kearns
Technician Michael T. Kovach
Firefighter Nathan R. Larkin
Firefighter Heather J. Lefever
Firefighter Man Y. Li
Firefighter Roy A. Lockhart
Michael R. McElroy,
IT Program Manager I
Technician Ryan P. McGill
Technician Christopher W. Ouellette
Alfred J. Pacifico,
Nurse Practitioner
Firefighter Roger A. Perdomo-Cortes
Firefighter Peter M. Perez
Firefighter Ashley P. Pope
Firefighter Jason G. Pryor
Firefighter Matthew C. Quigley
Firefighter Roxroy W. Reid
Sandra Y. Rodriguez,
Administrative Assistant III
Firefighter Javier A. Santa Gadea
Technician Brian R. Steele
Laurel A. Stone,
Management Analyst III
LaTycia S. Tanks,
Fire Inspector II
Jeffrey S. Thomas,
Fire Inspector II
Firefighter Edgar Torres, Jr.
Technician Jason W. Trautman
Technician David L. Wallis
Firefighter Adam R. Wright
32
Line Copy
Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department
Attn: Public Affairs and Life Safety Education
4100 Chain Bridge Road
Fairfax, Virginia 22030
Volume III, 2011
PRST STD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT 45
FAIRFAX, VA
Station Profile
Jefferson
Fire and Rescue
Station 18
Captain II
Joseph E. Knerr
Station Commander
Station constructed: October 15, 1955
Station specialty: Technical Rescue Operations
Square miles in first due area: 7.1
Specific hazardous/target areas: INOVA Fairfax Hospital, Northern Virginia
Mental Health, Exxon/Mobil Headquarters, Marriott Hotel, Northrop Grumman, Falls Church High School
Total calls in 2010: 3,902
Equipment assigned to station: Engine, Medic, Rescue, EMS Supervisor, Technical Rescue Unit, Technical
Rescue Support Unit, and Swift-Water Boat
Station personnel: A-Shift: Captain II Joseph E. Knerr, Lieutenant Rodney S. Vaughan, Master Technician
Carlos R. Carrillo, Master Technician Anthony E. Doran, Master Technician Timothy M. Kelly, Master Technician
Michael J. McQuade, Technician Davin E. Bridges, Technician Mark J. Deyneka, Technician Lawrence G. Mullin,
Technician Christopher H. Williams, Firefighter Stephanie A. Leland, Firefighter Donald W. Rohr B-Shift:
Captain I Donald P. Montague, Lieutenant Evan J. Lewis, Lieutenant Diron D. Powell, Master Technician
George E. Hahn, Technician George L. Carpenter, Technician Daryl T. Casey, Technician Timothy A. Fairchild,
Technician Brian P. Gillingham, Technician William J. Lamont III, Technician James A. Potter, Technician Kevin
F. Reyes, Technician Stephen M. Shapiro C-Shift: Captain I Robert W. Kitchen, Lieutenant Thomas R. Carver,
Lieutenant Patrick Sheehan, Master Technician Glenn B. Mooneyham, Technician Kevin R. Dabney, Technician
Evans G. Edwards, Technician John B. Haywood, Technician Michael T. Kovach, Technician Jorge H. Ochaita,
Acting Technician Jeffrey T. Pfeifer, Acting Technician Kathy A. Averys, Firefighter Roberto M. Da Silva.